TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - January 26, 2017) - Pfaff Motorsports will return to the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada with a four-strong full-season driver lineup, headlined by three champions and the addition of three new 2017 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup race cars to the Canadian series. Pfaff's series effort includes 2014 GT3 Cup Canada Platinum class champion Scott Hargrove, 2015 Gold class champion Orey Fidani, series veteran and 2016 Gold class champion Shaun McKaigue, and newcomer Ed Killeen.
Scott Hargrove, from Tsawwassen, BC, will drive the full Canadian season, plus the U.S. GT3 Cup race at Sebring, FL, in the flagship #9 Castrol-Pfaff Motorsports 2017 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. The 21-year-old has captured a total of 19 victories in the Canadian GT3 series, was the Canadian GT3 Platinum champion in 2014, won the 2013 USF2000 championship, and came second in the 2014 Pro Mazda championship. He has also raced the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, and in select Indy Lights races.
"Pfaff has been involved in motorsports since the 1980s, and is one of the most recognized names in Canadian Motorsports," said Hargrove. "Several people I look up to in my racing career, such as Scott Goodyear and Richard Spenard, have raced with Pfaff. It's important to align yourself with like-minded people who are goal-oriented, and the group at Pfaff Motorsports is a perfect fit; they want to win as much as I do."
Castrol Canada, makers of premium motor lubricants, returns as the title sponsor of Hargrove's 2017 GT3 Cup race car. Castrol and Pfaff have a long-standing partnership based on the products' recognized quality, and their appeal to high-performance drivers. For 2017, the new race car wears a new livery.
Hargrove added: "The new car looks beautiful, and I'm looking forward to more horsepower and downforce, and racing in Canada in front of Canadian fans. The Porsche GT3 Cup has been some of the most fun racing of my career, and the introduction of a new, more powerful, car will spice up the action and create a new challenge. The series has grown a lot, the field is more competitive, and the atmosphere is more intense than ever -drivers and fans will be more engaged in 2017."
"Scott is the winningest driver in the last three seasons of the GT3 Cup Canada," added Steve Bortolotti, Pfaff Motorsports team manager. "His experience, success, and drive give us the best chance to deliver another Pfaff championship in 2017."
Hargrove will be joined by Orey Fidani, who will drive his Gold-class 2016 Porsche GT3 Cup in the full season, plus Sebring. A series rookie in 2015, Fidani claimed the Gold- class championship in his first year, and has shown constant improvement throughout his time in the series. Said Bortolotti: "We are thrilled to have Orey Fidani continue his development with us in 2017 with the goal of bringing home another Gold-class championship."
Longtime customer Shaun McKaigue began purchasing his cars at Pfaff before attending track days, competing in Porsche Club Racing, and ultimately moving up to the IMSA-sanctioned GT3 Cup series a few years later. McKaigue has driven in the Canadian Porsche GT3 Cup since the series' inception in 2011, and won the Gold class in 2011 and 2016. In 2017, he moves up to the Platinum class with a brand-new 911 GT3 Cup race car, wearing FER-PAL Infrastructure/FER-PAL Aquapipe livery.
"Pfaff Motorsports has demonstrated a professionalism, dedication, and will to win over the last number of years," said McKaigue. "Their knowledge of everything Porsche gives us an edge. Pfaff can be depended upon to field perfectly prepared cars, every weekend. With their support, I'm hoping to consistently run in the top five during the season, and have my eye on a couple of podium finishes. I would also like to challenge for the win in the Platinum Masters class."
Another Pfaff customer joining the Canadian GT3 Cup series is Ed Killeen, from Buffalo, New York, who will also be running in the Platinum class with an all-new 911 GT3 Cup car, sponsored by Life Storage. Killeen's desire to be on-track and learn racecraft began with several years of track days. Becoming more serious about racing, he jumped head- first into motorsports, competing in endurance racing with TWOth Autosport, and earning numerous race wins and podiums. After a successful season racing a Porsche GT4 Clubsport, and running the final race of the Canadian GT3 Cup series in 2016, he's excited about competing at the top level in the Porsche GT3 Cup Canada.
"My goal for the 2017 season is to get comfortable with the new Cup car as quickly as possible, and challenge for the Platinum Masters class Championship," said Killeen. "Having the experience and depth that Pfaff Motorsport brings will certainly help us all get up to speed with this great new car. I feel fortunate to run with my guys at TWOth Autosport, and to do it with a group like Pfaff will make it a special year. I've got great confidence in the team, and can't wait for race one at CTMP!"
Alongside Pfaff's four full-season competitors, Jeff Pabst, an accomplished racer on the Canadian and international stages, will compete in select Canadian races behind the wheel of Pfaff's 2014 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car, bringing the total number of Pfaff entries in the Canadian series to five.
About Pfaff Automotive Partners
Pfaff Automotive Partners, a leading Canadian automotive retailer, was founded in 1964. Its brand offering includes Volkswagen, Toyota, Audi, BMW, Porsche, McLaren, Singer Vehicle Design, Pagani, and Harley-Davidson automobiles and motorcycles. It has a 50-plus-year racing history across many forms of motorsport. The company also operates Pfaff Tuning, Pfaff Leasing, and Pfaff Autoworks. For more information, please visit www.pfaffauto.com.
About Castrol in Canada
Wakefield Canada is the national distributor for all Castrol premium products and Super Clean cleaner degreaser. Wakefield provides products to Retailers, Automotive & Commercial Heavy Duty customers and Motorcycle dealers with dedicated customer service and technical support as well as industry-leading marketing programs to drive growth for both our customers and the brands we represent. Wakefield provides sales, marketing and distribution solutions to over 5000 customers in all segments, including: Retailers, Warehouse Distributors, Automotive and Heavy Duty Jobbers/Distributors, Franchised and Independent Installers, Quick Lubes, Heavy Duty Fleet Companies, New Car Dealers, Off Road Equipment Operators, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and Municipal Fleets. Follow us @CastrolCanada on Facebook and Twitter. For more information about Castrol products, go to www.castrol.ca. For more information about Wakefield Canada, check us out at www.Wakefieldcanada.ca
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Contact Information:
Contact:
Laurance Yap
lyap@pfaffauto.com
416-948-0672
